Myanmar president leaves for state visit to China

YANGON -- At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Myanmar President U Thein Sein on Friday left Nay Pyi Taw for a four-day goodwill visit to China .

U Thein Sein will attend the Commemorative Ceremony of the 60th Anniversary of the Announcement of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence by Myanmar, China and India to be held in Beijing on Saturday and Sunday.

"We are proud for jointly holding the 60th Anniversary of the Announcement of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence,"said Presidential spokesperson U Ye Htut in an interview with Xinhua earlier this week.

He believed that the president's visit can strengthen the comprehensive strategic cooperative ties between China and Myanmar.

U Thein Sein has previously visited China for a number of times.

He paid a state visit in May 2011 and attended the 9th China- ASEAN Expo in the southwestern city of Nanning in September 2012.

The president also attended the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference and paid another state visit to China in April 2013. In September 2013, he again attended the China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning.

Related stories:

China, ASEAN to have South China Sea talks

Guangxi strengthens ties with ASEAN